Liverpool fans have weighed in on Federico Chiesa following his first Premier League start of the season against Wolves.
Chiesa was deployed on the right wing at Anfield on Saturday, and during his time on the pitch, Liverpool scored twice thanks to Ryan Gravenberch and Florian Wirtz. Wolves pulled one back after the break through Santiago Bueno, and Liverpool looked under pressure, prompting Arne Slot to replace Chiesa with Conor Bradley just after the hour mark.
Chiesa finished the game without a goal or assist, leading some fans to question whether he is suited to the Premier League. One fan commented, “Federico Chiesa was substituted after an hour. He didn’t deliver a standout performance, but he did enough to deserve more chances, in my opinion.” Another wrote, “Hopefully people stop asking for Chiesa to start—he’s best as a five-minute sub, that’s it.” A third added, “It pains me, but maybe Slot was right about Chiesa; he might be more effective against tired legs.” However, one supporter sympathized, saying, “I actually feel bad for Chiesa—he had to perform well, or else critics would feel justified in thinking he isn’t good enough.”
Chiesa has scored two goals in 18 appearances this season, including a key strike against Bournemouth in the league opener. With Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, the 28-year-old could still earn starting opportunities despite his underwhelming outing against Wolves. Liverpool face a congested schedule, with matches against Leeds United, Fulham, and Arsenal all within seven days.
After the 2-1 win, Slot expressed frustration with the team’s second-half performance. “No, of course not. Going 2-0 up at half-time, you expect a different second half than what we faced. In football, a single goal can change momentum dramatically. That’s why I was so annoyed when our goal at Manchester City was disallowed. You saw the effect today—after 2-1, possession was still there, but the game felt much more balanced.”
